Rancho Santa Fe (July 24, 2025) – While human students are enjoying their summer break away from studies, adventure-bound hounds are antsy to dive into class with Helen Woodward Animal Center. The Center’s annual Surf Dog lessons at Dog Beach in Del Mar are set to make a splash, starting this weekend. Book-study isn’t required, but the wag-filled classes will have beach-loving pups hitting the waves to prep for the highly-anticipated, annual “Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon,” scheduled for Sunday, September 7th. Local SurFURS are invited to enroll for instruction starting THIS SUNDAY, July 27th and continuing select Sundays in August.
Dog surfing has existed as far back as the 1920’s and dogs even appeared in surfing films as early as the 1930’s. It was Helen Woodward Animal Center, however, that pioneered competitive dog surfing 19 years ago with the first Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon, utilizing the event to raise funds to save lives. In 2010 ESPN flew out to cover the 4th annual contest reaching approximately 400 million viewers across the world and launching Dog surfing into a global phenomenon.
To encourage surf dog enthusiasts, while focusing on the primary goal of safety, Helen Woodward Animal Center began partnering with the SoCal Surf Dogs on canine surf lessons in 2013. The SoCal Surf Dogs are a group of dog-loving surfers who founded their own club in 2009, with the goal of teaching and promoting safe Dog Surfing practices throughout Southern California.
All new surFurs begin their lessons on the beach with mandatory safety training, equipped with Canine Floatation Devices along with soft surf boards without leashes for maximum protection. Lessons progress by teaching pups how to stand on their boards, how to develop positive associations with these boards and finally moving into shallow water, where hopeful groMUTTs learn how to balance and float on their boards. To end class, the surFurs are given a chance to shred the waves in shallow waters with the guidance of Dog Surfing professionals.
“These lessons are a really wonderful way to spend time with your beach-loving dog and other surf-loving dog families, while finding out if your pet has what it takes to compete in the September event,” said Helen Woodward Animal Center Special Events Manager Eva Lagudi-Devereux. “It’s also a wonderful way to support orphan pets while bonding with your own.”
Dog Surfing lessons are $50 per session, per SurFUR. (All proceeds support the pets and programs at Helen Woodward Animal Center.)
The first of three sessions will kick-off at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. this Sunday, July 27th at Del Mar Dog Beach. Additional lessons will be offered on Sunday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 10th. All dogs must be registered to attend and spaces fill up quickly.
To register your pooch, visit: https://animalcenter.org/surf-dog-surf-a-thon/
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About Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday® campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. For more information, go to: https://animalcenter.org.
